public awareness drive will mean hauliers obtain from traders everything they need to get ready for Brexit, helping goods continue to flow smoothly

8 million project will establish 150 pop-up advice centres across 10 countries, with messaging supported by a billboard and media advertising campaign

hauliers will also be provided with a handbook and pocket guide to set out how they can prepare so they can continue to travel freely

A multi-million pound information campaign is being launched across the UK and Europe to ensure businesses and hauliers are prepared for the UK to leave the EU on 31 October 2019, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced today (9 September 2019).

The public awareness drive will make sure hauliers obtain everything they need from traders to get through border customs smoothly, reducing risk of delays at ports.

The campaign will include:

a billboard and media advertising campaign

the establishment of 150 pop-up centres across the 10 countries covering the nationalities that process the most UK-bound road freight

the distribution of millions of multi-language information handbooks and pocket guides

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:

This campaign is another example of the extensive preparations we are making for leaving the EU on 31 October.

As an outward-facing global trading nation, the efficiency of our ports is of paramount importance. This multi-million-pound initiative ensures the UK will remain open for business, with goods continuing to move freely.

As part of the campaign an email will today be sent to 70,000 UK operators, industry bodies and other interested parties detailing essential information for those driving to the EU after 31 October.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, hauliers will be required to go through customs checks when exporting goods to the EU from the UK. It is the responsibility of traders to apply and obtain the right paperwork for the goods hauliers are carrying.

The UK government will also be providing hauliers with a handbook and a pocket guide to clearly set out how they can prepare themselves, their vehicles and their goods so that they can continue to travel freely. The how-to guides will be available across the UK and the continent at pop-up facilities in service stations, truck stops and petrol stations.

Todays announcement follows last weeks additional funding for Operation Brock the contingency plan to tackle congestion in Kent in the event of any cross-Channel disruption.

The additional funds will be put towards a suite of measures, including standing up Manston airport as a lorry holding facility, the implementation of border readiness checks and increased resources to ensure drivers comply with Operation Brock.

The initiative launched today is part of the UKs wider Get Ready for Brexit campaign, announced earlier this month, that will outline the actions all members of the public and business owners need to take to prepare for 31 October.